Bobbin holder



Oct. 5, 1965 R. WEISS BOBBIN HOLDER Filed May 29, 1965 IZII" INVENTOR. RAPHAEL WE/SS ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,210,024 BOBBIN HOLDER Raphael Weiss, Kernpten, Allgau, Germany, assignor to Allma Allgauer Maschinenbau G.m.b.H., Kempten, Allgau, Germany Filed May 29, 1963, Ser. No. 284,184 5 Claims. (Cl. 242130.1)

This invention relates to a bobbin holder with two relatively adjustable discs of different diameters for supporting conical bobbin sleeves of different shapes and sizes. Such known bobbin holders are used for supporting bobbin sleeves in winding machines, twisting machines and reeling machines. In the above-mentioned bobbin holders there are arranged between the two discs a plurality of spacing discs which are threaded on the bobbin-supporting spindle and which are of smaller diameter than the adjustable discs previously referred to. The bobbin-supporting spindle in this case has the form of a screw-threaded bolt and serves for clamping the discs together. According to whether the spacing discs between the two discs are of different sizes or are arranged below the larger discs, such a bobbin holder is suitable for supporting bobbin sleeves of many different kinds. The replacement of the discs when using another different size or shape of bobbin sleeve is however relatively complicated and time-consuming, since the spindle must be completely disconnected from the bar to which it is attached and it is then necessary to determine by trial and error the correct number of spacing discs for insertion between the two different sized discs. In order to render the known bobbin holders suitable for the widest possible range of sizes and shapes of bobbin, it was necessary to provide a large number of spacing discs. This large number of spacing discs rendered the known device expensive to manufacture.

A further bobbin holder is also known in which one of the discs is releasably secured on the bobbin spindle by means of a clamping screw. The adaptation of this known bobbin holder to suit various different sizes and shapes of bobbin sleeves is however a complicated operation, since in order to be able to slide one of the discs along the spindle, the corresponding clamping screw must be loosened with the aid of a screwdriver and then tightened up again. Sliding adjustment of this bobbin holder without using a tool is impossible.

In another design of bobbin holder, there is provided a basket-wound spring over which the bobbin sleeve is engaged. According to the shape and size of the bobbin sleeve, the basket-wound spring must be expanded to a greater or lesser extent. There is thus produced, with certain shapes and sizes, a spring force which is so great that the bobbin is forced off the bobbin sleeve by the spring pressure of the basket-wound spring.

It is an object of the present invention to remove the disadvantages of the known bobbin holders. This is achieved according to the invention in that at least one of the adjustable discs is capable of being secured in any desired position along the bobbin-supporting spindle by means of a spring-loaded clamping device which is so constructed and arranged that it is releasable by the application of pressure in opposition to the spring pressure. With this bobbin holder rapid release and clamping of the adjustable discs is possible, since the spring pressure effects the automatic clamping of the disc. The release of the clamping device is consequently very simple, since all that is necessary is to overcome the force of the spring by finger pressure in order to release the clamping device. Thereupon easy sliding of the disc along the bobbin holder spindle is possible. By sliding the disc, adjustment to suit any particular shape or size of bobbin 3,210,024 Patented Oct. 5, 1965 ice is achieved. After the clamping device has been released, the spring pressure again comes into full operation, so that the slidable disc is immovably secured on the smooth spindle.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partly sectioned perspective view of a slidable disc forming part of a bobbin holder.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are side elevations showing the bobbin holder with two different bobbin sleeves.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section through the bobbin holder, taken on the line IVIV in FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 is an end view of the slidable disc.

In the drawings, a bobbin supporting spindle indicated by reference 1 is secured to a bobbin frame (not shown) by means of a screw-thread 2. On the rear end of bobbinsupporting spindle 1 is mounted a disc 3 which is preferably of conical shape. This disc is supported against the bobbin frame and can therefore be regarded as stationary. Furthermore, a disc 4 is arranged so that it is slidable along and capable of being clamped with respect to the bobbin-suporting spindle 1.

Two thin clamping plates 5 and 6, which are formed respectively with bores 7 and 8 of a diameter somewhat greater than the diameter D of the bobbin-supporting spindle 1, serve as a clamping device. The difference in diameter between the bores 7 and 8 and the spindle 1 amounts only to a few tenths of a millimetre and depends upon the thickness of the clamping plates 5 and 6. In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the clamping plates 5, 6 are composed of spring steel and are connected together at their edges by a yoke 9. The yoke 9 is disposed substantially parallel to the axis of the spindle. The clamping plates 5 and 6 and the yoke 9 may thus be made in one piece from spring steel, so that the cost of manufacture of the clamping device is very low. The clamping plates 5 and 6 and the yoke 9 are disposed within a central opening 4a in the disc 4. The yoke 9 and the clamping plates 5 and 6 are bent so that a resilient force acts upon the clamping plates 5 and 6, which tilts the latter in opposite directions respectively relatively to the axis of the spindle 1. The free ends of the two clamping plates are thus urged apart, as indicated by the arrows A, by means of the resilient action. Due to the tilting movement of the clamping plates, a firm securing of the slidable disc 4 to the spindle is achieved. The compression of the two clamping plates can be achieved without the use of any tool by finger pressure. In this manner, as is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the disc 4 can be conveniently slid along the spindle and suited to any particular form and size of bobbin.

In order to facilitate the compression of the ends of the clamping plates 5 and 6, the slidable disc 4 is formed with an arcuate recess as shown in FIG. 5. It is then easily possible to obtain access to the clamping plates with the tips of the fingers.

In order to ensure that the rear stationary disc 3 matches the diameter of the bobbin, this disc is made conical. The rear disc 3, however, serves only for supporting the larger diameter end of the bobbin. The bobbin sleeve is clamped on the slidable disc. In order to improve the clamping effect of the disc 4, the latter is likewise made conical and, as can be seen more particularly from FIG. 4, has a saw-tooth profile. The apex angle a of the cone of the rear stationary disc 3 is thus substantially greater than the apex angle 1) of the slidable disc 4.

The invention is not limited to the constructional embodiment illustrated. For example, it is also possible for both of the clamping plates to be slidably arranged in the slidable disc and for them to be tilted in the required manner with respect to the bobbin-holding spindle by the action of a suitably arranged spring. If desired, the relatively slidable discs may also be made cylindrical. The construction according to this invention is furthermore not limited to bobbin holders with a stationary spindle. It would also be possible to provide the assembly with a rotatable spindle.

I claim:

1. A bobbin holder for supporting conical bobbin sleeves of different shapes and sizes, comprising:

a spindle;

a first conical disc fixedly mounted on said spindle;

a second disc slideably mounted on said spindle for movement axially along said spindle toward and away from said first disc;

a resilient clamping device for releasably securing said second disc against movement with respect to said spindle, said clamping device comprising two spacedapart clamping plates each having an opening therethrough which said spindle extends, said openings having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of said spindle, and resilient means acting on said plates and urging same away from each other for tilting said plates in opposite directions with respect to said spindle and into gripping engagement therewith, whereby a conical bobbin sleeve can be supported on and between said discs.

2. A bobbin holder according to claim 1, in which the clamping plates are rnade of spring steel and are connected together at corresponding one ends thereof by a yoke which extends substantially parallel to the axis of the spindle, said plates diverging in a direction away from said yoke.

3. A bobbin as claimed in claim 2, in which the yoke is integral with the plates, said yoke being substantially C-shaped in cross-section and being joined at its ends to the adjacent edges of said plates.

4. A bobbin holder as claimed in claim 3, in which the clamping device is disposed within an internal central opening in said second disc.

5. A bobbin holder as claimed in claim 1, in which the second disc is conical and is provided, in the axial direction, with a saw tooth profile.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,152,892 9/15 Henry 24--115.7 2,414,054 1/47 McDermott 242130.1 X 2,623,710 12/52 Pearson 242130.1 X

MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner. 

1. A BOBBIN HOLDER FOR SUPPORTING CONICAL BOBBIN SLEEVES OF DIFFERENT SHAPES AND SIZES, COMPRISING: A SPINDLE; A FIRST CONICAL DISC FIXEDLY MOUNTED ON SAID SPINDLE; A SECOND DISC SLIDEABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SPINDLE FOR MOVEMENT AXIALLY ALONG SAID SPINDLE TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID FIRST DISC; A RESILIENT CLAMPING DEVICE FOR RELEASABLY SECURING SAID SECOND DISC AGAINST MOVEMENT WITH RESPECT TO SAID SPINDLE, SAID CLAMPING DEVICE COMPRISING TWO SPACEDAPART CLAMPING PLATES EACH HAVING AN OPENING THERETHROUGH WHICH SAID SPINDLE EXTENDSD, SAID OPENINGS HAVING A DIAMETER SLIGHTLY LARGER THAN THE DIAMETER OF SAID SPINDLE, AND RELILIENT MEANS ACTING ON SAID PLATES AND URGING SAME AWAY FROM EACH OTHER FOR TILTING SAID PLATES IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS WITH RESPECT TO SAID SPINDLE AND INTO GRIPPING ENGAGEMENT THEREWITH, WHEREBY A CONICAL BOBBIN SLEEVE CAN BE SUPPORTED ON AND BETWEEN SAID DISCS. 